Uncertain certain change

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new” – Socrates

As always change comes with its challenges; both conceptually and physically, and the IR35 draft legislation is no different. Although we have long been aware of the impending changes due across the public sector this coming financial year, there is still uncertainty.

Venn Group held one in a series of IR35 Seminars last night, specifically dedicated to our Local Government Interim Executive division. Together with an informative presentation from our associates at EY, we were able to offer insight and answer valuable questions from both Interim Consultants and Local Authority clients regarding the future impact.

Off Payroll working in the Public Sector (IR35) draft legislation was published at the beginning of December 2016. Since then there has been varied interpretations from numerous parties, causing untold confusion, followed by delays regarding this hotly anticipated Assessment Tool.

As Interim specialists, Venn Group has been preparing for this upcoming change for over a year, in liaison with HMRC throughout, and we have subsequently been part of the HMRC Beta test, which has been interesting as it has developed considerably in the last four week period.

Although still technically in it’s testing period, it’s positive to see that HMRC yesterday released a public test tool that allows individuals visibility of the questions that will be posed and the opportunity to trial this themselves. It’s important to note though that even when the final version is released, the test tool is simply this, a test, and is not therefore a mandatory assessment, perhaps adding more uncertainty to the mix.

Truthfully, no one really knows the impact of this legislation until it happens. What we do know though is that change comes with the territory in this sector and we are masters in the subject.

There will undoubtedly be a period of adjustment for all parties moving forward, but we are confident in our interpretation of the expected impact as it stands and are as prepared, and as open minded as we can be to address the challenges ahead and welcome change in all its forms.

“Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and brilliant at the end” – Robin Sharma